Residents of Ecclesfield got the chance to find out how best to keep warm and keep the cost of living down, with event organisers saying it was their “best turn out of the year.”

The events were held on 30 November and 4 December at Café Hug in High Green and Ecclesfield Library, and featured advice on benefits, pensions, and cost of living, as well as giving out free warm packs which had scarves and hot water bottles in them. 

Organiser Mark Hible, who is a Community Development and Cost of Living worker, over 30 people in the north of Sheffield this year received warm packs. 

Mr Hible said that the events have been especially important this year following the cuts in winter fuel payments in Labour’s first budget, and that they had a “great” turnout with around 50 people attending the High Green event, and around 20 in Ecclesfield. 

Mr Hible, alongside organising the events and offering advice, also works on training library staff or volunteers to be able to give advice on benefits and pensions so that as many residents as possible can be helped.

The events can also give company to those who are lonelier in the winter month, with Mr Hible saying that some come for “a cup of tea or a chit chat.”

The next cost of living events will be in mid February, and will be posted here.